intro to toxicology

Question 1

WHAT IS TOXICOLOGY?

Answer 1

Toxicology - the study of the adverse effects of chemical, biological
or physical agents on living organisms and the environment.

Question 2

Branches of toxicology

Answer 2

Toxicology
Basic Research
Applied
Molecular Biochemical Genetic Mechanistic Descriptive

Applied
Analytical
Clinical
Environmental
Forensic
Occupational
Regulatory

Question 3

define poison, toxic and toxicity

Answer 3

Poison – substances that cause death, injury or harm
Toxic - the chemical/physical agent/substance having the characteristic of
producing an undesirable or adverse health effect
Toxicity – the ability of a toxic agent to cause adverse effects in living organisms

Question 4

define toxicant, toxin

Answer 4

Toxicant – the chemical/physical agent/substance that produces adverse effects
on biological organisms (anthropogenic source), maybe chemical or
physical (i.e., pesticides)
Toxin – toxic substance (peptides or proteins) that is produced by biological
systems such as plants, animals, fungi or bacteria. Venoms are toxins
produced by a bite or sting

Question 4

Toxic Agent

Answer 4

anything that can produce an adverse effect (chemical, physical or
biological).
Chemical (e.g. cocaine) Physical (e.g. radiation) Biological (e.g. venom)

Question 5

WHAT ABOUT DISEASES?

biological agent
biological toxin

Answer 5

Biological Agent – Organisms that invade
and multiply within another
organism and produce their effects
by biological activity are not
classified as toxic agents but
biological agents. For example,
SARS-CoV-2
https://toxtutor.nlm.nih.gov/01-002.html
Biological Toxin – Invading organisms
excretes a chemical which causes
the toxicity. (toxic organism) For
example, Tetanus – Clostridium
tetani

Question 6

IS IT A REMEDY OR POISON?

Answer 6

k

Question 7

PROBLEM – LINKING CAUSE AND EFFECT

Answer 7

Major problem – no ethical way to get human volunteers, hence need to
use models
1. Effect may not occur at the time of exposure
2. Variability in response (individuals diversity – age, sex, health)
3. Complications of combined effects
4. Detailed toxicological information may not be available

Question 8

GENERAL PRINCIPLES/GOALS CLINICAL PERSPECTIVE

Answer 8

Reduce exposure
Reduce absorption
Increase elimination
Know when to intervene
Give supportive care
Give specific therapy and antidotes when
appropriate
Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Decontamination,
Elimination
Find an antidote